Chain coupler



Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

MATHEW rfrnaivrnncn, or nAnrLnY, Iowa.

CHAIN COUPLER.

Application lcd December 21, 1927.

The plers,

present invention relates to chain couand aims to provide a novel and improved device for connecting chain` links without danger of accidentall separation, and permitting convenient manual connection and disconnection, the device being particularly useful for the non-,skid chains of vehicle wheels, but also being useful Yfor other purposes. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel coupling lever Vto be hingedly connected with one chain link and adapted tov pass through or engage another chain link, and capable of being swung for drawing said links toward one another, and said lever beingformed to engage a ring or keeper in a novel manner for holding the lever in position against accidental release.

Vith the foregoing and other obj ects in view,

which will be apparent as the description pro` ceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illust-rated in the accompanying drawing', wherein- Figure lisa side elevation of a fragmen-l tary portion of a non-skid chain showing the improved coupler.

Fig. 2 is a view looking downwardly on the parts shown in Fig. 1.

The coupling' lever 7 is formed from a length of stout wire or a rod,.having suitable strength and resilience. The wire is doubled and has the 'arms 8' extending in the same general direction and connected at one end by a loop 9 adaptedv to loosely embrace a link 10 oi' the chain, to hingedly connect said lever and link. The loop 9 is bent to one side, as seen in Fig. 2. The terminals of the wire are bent into hooks 11, at the free ends of the arms 8, and said terminals are bent away from one another so as to provide hooks on the opposite sides of the arms. Said hooks are adapted to engage a ring or keeper 12 disposed loosely on anotherlink 13 of the chain, and when the arms 8 are sprung toward one another,.the vhooks 11 are moved together, so that the ring 12 may be moved over the hooks. The .arms 8 are offset or bent away from one another, as at 14, near the hooks, in order that when the portions 14 are pressed together by the thumb and finger, the hooks `11 it will be moved together. The loop 9 lies in a plane at substanplane, and said loop being Serial4 No. 241,602.

hooks 11 and arms ment of said arms toward and away from one another, and said loop is also disposed at one side of the plane ot movement ot said arms.v

, The lever 7 is passed through another link 15 of the chain,

in coupling the opposite terminals oi the chain together, and said lever is then swung adjacent to the link 13. Then, byV pressing the portions 14; together the ring 12 may be conveniently moved over 11, so as to` engage in said hooks when the lever is released. Thislatches the lever Securely in position, against accidental release. The arms 8 ot the lever are resilient-soL as to spring' away from one another, and the porf tions of the arms 8 adjacent to the hooks 11 converge toward said hooks, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the tendencyy of the arms 8 to separate will hold the ring 12 seated in the hooks, so

as to vprevent the ring from moving toward `the portions V14.-..

However, by pressingy the portions 14 together, the ring 12 maybe passed over the hooks 11 ofi' the lever, there'- by releasing the lever and permitting the chain linksto be separated. s, c

The device is shown on a `non-skid chain,

but may-obviously be used tor other purposes for which it is suitable. l

Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed as new is: y 1. A coupling lever having a pair of arms connected at one end by a loop and provided with hooks at their opposite` ends to engage through a keeper, toward and away from one another in'on'e of said plane and in a plane at substantially right angles'with the irstnam'ed plane.

2. A coupling connected at one end by a loop and provided with hooks -at their opposite ends to engage v,through a keeper,

said arms being movable toward and away plane, and said loopv being located at oneside of said plane and in a plane at substantially right angleswith the 'iirstnamed plane, said arms being oiilset away from one another between said hooks and loop and 4converging from said oiiset portions to the hooks.

8. A coupling lever bent from a length of wire and having a pair of arms connected at one end by a loop and provided with hooks atL their opposite ends bentaway 'from one another, said arms being adapted to spring to# the hooks located atone side,

lever having a pair ofarmsv -tially right angles with the planes of the l 8 and the plane of move said arms being movable from .one another in one` los 5 4. A coupling Y loward and away from one another in `one n v e. 1,634,580V werd :ma Y from one another. in one plane, and looy `located atene side plane and sai loop being *located at one fsnid planef-in a p me, Mia-By' right side of said plane in a plane at substantially angles wththe frstnamed plane,` sadrarms rght'angles with the rstnarned ,p1ene. bein oset awey frprn one another between Wire and having a pair of arms connected at voffset portions to said hooks. f v one end by a loop and provided with hooks at `ntestmony whereof I hereunto affix my Y their opposite ends bentwway `from oneansignature; A

other, said arms being adapted to spring to- Y .e

\ Y J FRAMBACH.

lever rbent from a length of said odks `und"1o` `2p`and converging from the 15 e 

